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Altidore Absorbs Beating to Ensure U.S. Does Not

PRETORIA, South Africa — After the United States’ grueling and emotional win over Algeria on Wednesday, striker Jozy Altidore needed a hug.

Altidore had been bumped, elbowed, kicked and tripped for 90-plus minutes by overzealous Algerian defenders. So after the Americans’ 1-0 victory, when he and his teammates walked to the east side of Loftus Versfeld Stadium to salute their supporters, Altidore hopped the advertising boards and leaped into the arms of the appreciative fans.

The 20-year-old Altidore did not score in the game, and has not in this tournament, but he did everything else expected of a forward in a win-or-go-home match.

The Americans had 22 shots, 10 on goal, and Altidore was involved in almost every threatening scoring opportunity they mounted. He ran to loose balls in the offensive third of the field, controlled long passes out of the back while under pressure, and dribbled skillfully past backtracking defenders.

“When Jozy brings that attitude and that aggressiveness, he’s an absolute handful,” said Landon Donovan, who scored the goal that sent the United States into the second round. “No defender in the world wants to deal with him.”

Altidore was fouled six times, more than any player on the field, and earned five dangerous free kicks around Algeria’s penalty area. He lured two Algerian players into yellow cards with determined runs and dangerous dribbling.

“It was physical, man; it was tough,” said Altidore, solidly built at 6 feet 1 inch and 175 pounds. “I just try to make it hard on people I play against and try to help the team in any way.”

Photo

Jozy Altidore with Mehdi Lacen. Altidore did everything but score in a 1-0 win over Algeria.Credit
Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

In the 37th minute, Altidore came close to scoring when a ball popped off Donovan’s foot in the penalty area yards from goal. It fell between Altidore and Donovan, and both kicked at it. Altidore connected, but skied his shot over the crossbar.

“I had a great chance in the first half and I got too excited thinking, ‘I’m going to score in the World Cup,’ ” he said. “I’m just happy that I created another chance to win that game.”

In the second half, Altidore was relentless. He beat defender Madjid Bougherra with a crafty move in the 57th minute, pushing the ball one way and running the other. His low cross into the box found Clint Dempsey, whose shot hit the post. Undeterred, Altidore pushed the attack, lunging at the rebound from an Edson Buddle header that was desperately saved by goalkeeper Raïs M’Bolhi.

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Although he received a yellow card of his own in the 62nd minute for clipping an opponent’s heel, Altidore maintained his composure during difficult circumstances and showed a maturity that has sometimes been missing from his game.

Last season, Altidore played in the English Premier League for Hull City, scoring only once in 16 league games for a team that was relegated to a lower division once the year ended. It frustrated Altidore, whose season ended when he head-butted an opponent in April and was immediately ejected. Against Algeria, Altidore showed none of that petulance.

Altidore was the most dangerous offensive player not to score, and he was the lynchpin of the play that yielded the winning goal. As the game entered four minutes of injury time, the Americans pushed forward frantically, and fell victim to a counterattack. But goalkeeper Tim Howard saved Rafik Saïfi’s headed shot and quickly sprung Donovan down the right side. He advanced the ball quickly, pushed it ahead to lead Altidore and kept running.

Altidore beat one defender and crossed the ball to a charging Clint Dempsey, whose shot was blocked. But Donovan, alertly trailing the play, side-footed home the rebound.

“I knew what we had in the team,” Altidore said. “We have the talent, we have the ability to get chances. I knew there was going to be more.”

The next one could be his.

A version of this article appears in print on June 24, 2010, on Page B17 of the New York edition with the headline: Altidore Absorbs Beating To Ensure U.S. Does Not. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe